Ben Cohen, co-founder of ice-cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has urged Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan to use her platform to support the brand amid its dispute over its social-activism policies and comments on Gaza.
In a post on X on August 21, Cohen referred to Kapoor’s long-standing association with Unilever and Magnum and her previous public expressions concerning violence against Palestinian children. He urged her to encourage the company to support Ben & Jerry’s independence.
Cohen alleged that Unilever had sought to silence criticism of the Israeli government, including statements by Ben & Jerry’s concerning Gaza. The allegations form part of a wider dispute between Ben & Jerry’s and its former parent company over the ice-cream maker’s social mission and ability to speak publicly on political issues.
Cohen wrote that he believed Kapoor would support Ben & Jerry’s if the issue was brought to her attention. He also urged his followers to draw attention to the matter through the hashtags #BoycottMagnum and #FreeBenandJerrys.
Kapoor has not publicly responded to Cohen’s latest appeal.
Legal dispute over Ben & Jerry’s social mission
The appeal comes amid a legal dispute involving Ben & Jerry’s, its independent board and Unilever over the brand’s social mission. Ben & Jerry’s and members of its independent board have accused Unilever of interfering with its social-activism policies, allegations Unilever has disputed.
On August 21, a US judge dismissed several claims in the lawsuit and ruled that The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which owns Ben & Jerry’s, would become the primary defendant instead of Unilever. Some claims were allowed to proceed.
The disagreement has its roots in Ben & Jerry’s 2021 decision to stop selling its products in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The move triggered tensions with Unilever over the extent of the ice-cream brand’s independence and its ability to take positions on political and social issues.
Ben & Jerry’s subsequently accused Unilever of interfering with its independent board and limiting its public statements. Unilever has rejected those allegations and denied suppressing the brand’s social activism.
Unilever separated its ice-cream business in 2025, creating The Magnum Ice Cream Company, which includes Ben & Jerry’s. The corporate restructuring has not ended the dispute over the brand’s governance and social mission.
